Re: Timing of 2nd DC

My kids are all in the 18-24 month difference
DS1 and DS2 are 19 months apart
DS2 and DD1 are 23 months apart
DD1 and DD2 are 20 months apart
(So 4 in 5 years)
Pros and cons to each gap
My DD1 is having a hard time with DD2 now but my boys really had no issue
BUT, my DS1 was 3.5 when I had my 3rd child and he regressed at that time so it affected him too.
I would go for whatever gap is ideal for you since it's so hard to predict!

Re: Timing of 2nd DC

I just posted a similar question didn't even see this

Personally 2 under two or two years apart was never for me...many of my friends do it and god bless them but I couldn't handle it without going crazy.

I am currently debating a 3 or 4 yr age difference myself...

Re: Timing of 2nd DC

Posted by Hofstra26

My DD was exactly 4.5 yrs old when my DS was born this year. Honestly, I had wanted kids closer in age BUT I will say that the big age difference was actually a blessing in disguise. No matter what going from one to two kids is hard but because she's older, out of diapers, mostly self sufficient and independent it made dealing with a NB so much easier.

She is able to keep herself occupied when I am busy with him and she's actually a HUGE help. She can feed him his bottle when he's in the high chair, she can grab me a bib or whatever else I need if I can't get up, she plays with him and keeps him occupied and happy. She is a wonderful big sister.

But I think the BEST part though is she really understood what was happening when I was pregnant, she was a part of everything which really made her happy so when he arrived she was over the moon, and she is SO, SO amazing with him. She adores him beyond words and has never once been jealous of him or felt displaced. She's just always been so thrilled to have a baby brother and he fell right into place with the family.......especially with Emerson. I was very happy about that.

I really LOVE that 4.5 year age gap, I think it's made the transition a little better for sure! I am glad it worked out the way it did.

ETA - The nice part too is my DD just started Kindergarten and I was home with her for all 5 years. Now with her in school my DS will get a lot of one on one time with me too during the day while she's in school. I think that is awesome for him!

Re: Timing of 2nd DC

My girls are 21 months apart and it's was really rough! I won't even sugar coat it! We were so exhausted the first 6 months. I didn't even know I could be as exhausted as I was. Now that my girls are 16 months and 3 years it's much easier and I love that they are close together. We are fairly certain we will try for a third but we are spacing them further apart. We want our youngest to be at least 3 when a new baby comes. I just think at 3 it's so much easier.

Re: Timing of 2nd DC

I'm thinking if I have another to have 3-5 year difference. A 5 year difference DD will be in kindergarten and I will have more time for a baby like I did with her. I used to want them closer together but I don't think I would handle that well. A newborn was difficult enough.